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Chemicals Management Plan Challenge Advisory Panel Summary Report

May 8, 2009

• Panel members present: Dr. T. Boadway (Chair), Dr. C. Brunk, Dr. N. Cherry, Dr. S. Findlay, Mr. G. Granville, Ms. L. Lusby, Dr. S. Maguire.
• Present via teleconference: Dr. J. Bend, Dr. G. Muckle, Dr. D. Scott
• Regrets: Dr. J. Eyles, Dr. P. Orris.

Outline:

The Challenge Advisory Panel meeting agenda was structured around a review of the Panel process and role as well as providing the Panel with an opportunity to view the progress on Batch 6 draft screening assessments. Government staff members were present to make presentations, answer questions and clarify information concerning procedures and policies applied in the Batch 6 proposed conclusions.

Meeting Summary:

Welcome and Introductory Comments

The Chair welcomed all members and staff and called for any amendments to the agenda. A motion was carried to begin the meeting with an in camera session. Government staff were invited to return after the in camera session.

Upon rising from in camera discussions

Members discussed the role of the Challenge Advisory Panel thus far in the Chemicals Management Plan Challenge process, specifically:

• Unless specifically articulated, advice provided by the Challenge Advisory Panel is considered substance-specific and extrapolation of advice should be reviewed by the Panel;
• That, given the method now established of reviewing chemicals on a timely basis,

"The Panel recommends that a meeting of the Panel be held four times a year."

Panel Discussion

Topics discussed during the overview of Batch 6 draft screening assessments, and considered worthy of further general discussion at future meetings, included:

• The use of Panel previous advice to inform Batch 6 proposed conclusions;
• Precaution and how to assess and account for cumulative exposures in the Challenge chemicals, specifically related to Batch 6 chemicals;
• The use of precaution in other jurisdictions and Canada's use of international and other government assessment documents;
• The use of models versus empirical data in screening assessments;
• The concept of weight of evidence as an absolute or relative measure.

One question raised by the Panel required clarification by the Government of the status of  Direct Black 38 considering international bans on its use and compared to the proposed conclusion of not toxic.

One specific Panel recommendation came from the Batch 6 discussion, with respect to  3-chloropropene:

"The Panel recommends Health Canada expand their enquiry and analysis to determine whether the mode of exposure is adequate for newborns and infants, and include considerations in report."

The Panel was satisfied with the review of the rest of Batch 6 substances that issues of weight of evidence and the application of precaution were addressed appropriately.